Rubbing and massage apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for rubbing and massaging the human body by means of a cloth-shaped rubbing material, which comprises a rubbing material which is disposed so as to form a surface and subdivided into a succession of webs extending substantially parallel with respect to one another, and means for driving alternate webs in one direction, the intermediate webs in opposite direction and for alternating the directions in which said webs are driven.

United States Patent [191 Pahl [ 51 Oct. 29, 1974 1 RUBBING AND MASSAGEAPPARATUS [76] Inventor: Karl-Heinz Pahl, Leuchtenberger Kirchweg 101,Duesseldorf-Nord, Germany [22] Filed: Feb. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:332,939

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 19, 1972 Germany 2207925[52] US. Cl. 128/63, 128/D1G. 10 [51] Int. Cl A6lh 7/00 [58] Field ofSearch 128/62, 63, 53, 32, 65,

128/D1G. 1O

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,807,308 5/1931 De Remer128/63 2,071,215 2/1937 Peterson 128/53 2,238,967 4/1941 Brown 128/632,807,815 10/1957 Mack 128/63 X 3,381,683 5/1968 Runde 128/63 PrimaryExaminer-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burgess, Dinklage &Sprung 5 7 ABSTRACT Apparatus for rubbing and massaging the human bodyby means of a cloth-shaped rubbing material, which comprises a rubbingmaterial which is disposed so as to form a surface and subdivided into asuccession of webs extending substantially parallel with respect to oneanother, and means for driving alternate webs in one direction, theintermediate webs in opposite direction and for alternating thedirections in which said webs are driven.

24 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures RUBBING AND MASSAGE APPARATUS Thisinvention relates to an apparatus for rubbing and/or massaging the humanbody by means of a clothshaped rubbing material or terry cloth.

After having taken a bath or shower, it is generally agreeable andcomfortable to rub the whole body vigorously by means of a terry cloththereby wiping the body not only dry but also massaging it thoroughlyand rubbing off repulsed parts of the horny layer of the cuticle.Heretofore, this has been generally done by means of a rough bath towelor terry cloth, which has the disadvantage that rubbing of the body withits use is often tedious, incomplete and strenuous.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an apparatuswhich permits more intensive, thorough and more rapid rubbing and/ormassaging of the body especially after having taken a bath or shower.

In accordance with the invention, this object is accomplished bydisposing the rubbing material or terry cloth so as to form a surfacefor bringing the body or parts of it into contact with the cloth and byproviding means for imparting to successive webs of the rubbing materialextending substantially parallel with respect to one another areciprocating motion in opposite directions in an alternatingsuccession.

Preferably the cloth-shaped rubbing material is stretched in asubstantially vertical plane so that the body may be laterally pressedinto contact with the rubbing material the individual websof which aremoving in opposite directions. However, it is also possible that therubbing material or terry cloth is stretched in a horizontal plane sothat one can lay the whole body down on the terry cloth thereby rubbingand massaging the body. Finally, the rubbing material may also bestretched in an inclined plane.

If the rubbing material is stretched in a substantially vertical orinclined plane, it is desireable that the individual webs of the rubbingmaterial extend substantially horizontally to support the body leaninglaterally against them.

To achieve that the rubbing material conforms to the body as the latteris pressed into contact with it, the cloth-shaped rubbing material hasdesirably rubber elasticity. In this case, each individual reciprocatingweb may be associated with a tensile member which is tightly connectedwith the web, desirably of continuous configuration and directlyconnected at both ends with the drive means. Suitable tensile membersinclude ropes, ribbons and wire, the rope, ribbon or wire desirablyconsisting of a rustfree material, e.g., a plastic material or stainlesssteel.

In cases where the rope, ribbon or wire is embedded in the rubberymaterial of the rubbing sheet, the rope, ribbon or wire should becapable of being satisfactorily bonded to rubber.

Preferably the rubbing material consists of a continuous cloth,individual web-shaped sections of which are reciprocated in oppositedirections in an appropriate manner in operation of the apparatus.Desirably the cloth may have cutouts between the zones forming theindividual webs to allow satisfactory relative movement of theindividual webs with respect to one another.

The rubbing material may consist of a rubbing sheet of rubber. However,it may also consist of a rubber sheet on which a separate terry cloth isremovably buttoned so that the terry cloth contacting the boddy may bereplaced after each use, which is important especially when using theapparatus according to the invention in hotels or massage saloons.

The holder of the cloth-shaped rubbing material may be a supportingframe which has return means on each of the sides opposing each other inthe direction of movement, the drive means for the individual webs ofthe rubbing material engaging both sides of the reversed ends of theweb. Reversal of the webs may be effected by means of rods, each end ofwhich is attached to a rigid plate. To reduce the resistance todisplacement of the individual webs, reversing rolls may be provided onthe rods. However, the holder of the rubbing material may also bemounted directly on the oscillating drive means without reversal.

One or two crankshafts having the crankpins connected to the ends of thewebs or the tensile members may be provided as drive means for theindividual webs. However, double-acting pistons movable with tap waterand controlled to move in opposite directions corresponding to thespecified movement of the individual webs may also be provided as drivemeans. Moreover, a camshaft with a gear motor may be used for moving thewebs.

Preferably the drive means is tightly connected with the supportingframe so that the total apparatus consists of an integral unit. Whenconstructed in this manner, it is possible to arrange the frameswingably permitting to swing it, for example, into a shower cabin. Sucha construction has the advantage that it is not necessary for the userof the shower cabin to leave it for rubbing after having taken theshower but that he can rub himself dry within the warm shower cabin bymeans of the apparatus according to the invention without being exposedto the draft generally present outside the shower cabin.

For the embodiment of the apparatus which can be swung into a showercabin, appropriate side faces may be provided at the supporting frame,these side faces forming at least one wall or part of a wall of theshower cabin in both positions of the apparatus, i.e., when swung intothe cabin and when swung out of it.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with referenceto the accompanying drawings where FIG. 1 is a front view of theapparatus according to the invention in the direction of the arrow I ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a further embodiment of the apparatusaccording to the invention in the direction of the arrow II of FIG. 4;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a more detailedrepresentation;

FIG. 6 shows in greater detail a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the drive means shown in FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate further possible means for driving the terrycloth.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the rubbing material of the apparatusaccording to the invention consists of a continuous sheet 2 which hasrubber elasticity and which is stretched in a substantially verticalplane. Due to a plurality of central and lateral cutouts 4 and 6, thesheet 2 may be subdivided into individual webs 8 which extendhorizontally (see FIG. 2 in this respect). Reference to webs 8 will alsobe made hereafter if the cutouts 4 and 6 are absent. In any case, thewebs 8 are specific zones or areas which move in opposite directions inoperation of the apparatus according to the invention.

At the lateral edges, the individual webs 8 are reversed about verticalrods 10, the upper and lower ends of which are seated in horizontalplates 12. To reduce the frictional resistance between the rods 10 andthe individual webs 8, reversing rolls (not represented in the drawing)may be mounted on the rods 10. Behind the reversing rods, the sheet 2may be provided with cutouts 6a. To illustrate this feature, two webs 8aof the end of the sheet are laterally turned about in FIG. 1.

The ends of the webs 8 reversed about the rods 10 lead to a drivemechanism 14 which is arranged behind the sheet 2 and which imparts tothe webs 8 extending parallel with respect to one another areciprocating movement in alternating succession and in oppositedirections. Various types of drive mechanisms 14 may be used, it beingonly essential that a reciprocating movement is produced. Suitable drivemeans include driven crankshafts, pistons operated with tap water,camshafts with gear motors, and the like.

The movement of the individual webs is brought about by pulling them bythe drive means 14 into the corresponding opposite directions. In caseof the cloth 2 represented in the drawing, each web 8 has associatedwith it a tensile member 16 which consists of a wire or rope which isembedded in the base material of the rubbery sheet. The wire or the ropeconsists of a rust-free material and can be readily bonded to rubber andis incorporated into the material as the rubber sheet is produced. Theends of the tensile members 16 are connected directly with the movingparts of the drive mechanism 14 and transmit a straight-line movement tothe webs 8.

The drive mechanism 14 is attached to the supporting frame 18 consistingof the vertical rods 10 and the horizontal plates 12 so that theapparatus represents an integral unit. As shown in the drawing, thesupporting frame 18 is fitted into a rectangular corner of the roomwhile the rubbing cloth 2 extends outwardly from the corner and formsthe hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle, the right angle of which issituated in the corner. To be rubbed, the user may lean against thecentral region of the cloth 2, in which case the latter will becomevaulted towards the room corner to an extent corresponding to thebearing pressure. The upper and lower plates 12 of the supporting frame18 have one curved cutout 20 each in the region of the vault to beexpected so that the user may approach the apparatus very closely. Theheight of the cloth extends desirably from a small distance above thefloor to about the neck of a medium-sized person.

In FIG. 2, the tensile ribbon 16 is connected directly with the ends ofa cranked embodiment of the piston rod 41, the cloth 2 having thecutouts 4 and 6 mentioned above.

FIG. 3 illustrates the special use of the apparatus according to theinvention in the room corner of a shower cabin 22. The shower cabin 22,only one room corner of which is shown, is defined on one side of theroom corner by the masonry 24 and, on the other side, by the partition26. The partition 26 terminates at a distance from the brick wall 24 atwhich a swivel joint 28 for the apparatus according to the invention isprovided in the extension of the partition 26. It is possible in thismanner to swing the apparatus from a position which is indicated in FIG.2 in dot-dash lines and in which the total supporting frame 18 isoutside the shower cabin into a position in which the supporting frame18 is situated in a room corner of the shower cabin 22 as shown in thedrawing.

To close the opening or passage between the end face of the partition 26and the brick wall 24 after the supporting frame 18 has been swung fromone position into the other, the supporting frame is provided with sidewalls 30 and 32 which are arranged at right angles and connected withthe swivel joint 28. In the position indicated by dot-dash lines, theside wall 30 engages the brick wall 24 while the side wall 32 closes theinterstice between the end face of the partition 26 and the brick wall24 thereby closing the shower cabin to the exterior. When moved into theposition within the shower cabin, the side wall 30 closes the showercabin to the exterior while the side wall 32 engages the brick wall 24in the interior of the shower cabin.

If the apparatus has extremely large dimensions, the side walls 30 and32 of the supporting frame 18 may be constructed as one side wall eachof the shower cabin.

In FIG. 4, the embodiment of the apparatus according to the inventionprovided with the cranked piston rod 41 is illustrated.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 of the drawing, a particular drive mechanism14a is provided for the rubbing cloth 2. According to FIG. 1 and 3, thewebs 8 of the rubbing cloth 2 passed about the rods 10 which areprovided with reversing rolls 34 are provided with tensile members 16which are connected directly with the drive 14a for the transmission ofthe movement.

The drive mechanism 14a operates hydraulically, tap water being used asthe hydraulic fluid. The drive mechanism consists of a plurality ofcylinders 36 in which a double-acting piston 38 is guided. The piston 38is provided on both sides with piston rods 42 which extend through thecylinder covers 40 and transmit the movement of the pistons. Thewater-operated pistons may be driven directly through a fluidalproportional amplifier.

Since two directions of motion are simultaneously necessary for each ofthe individual webs 8 of the rubbing cloth 2 in operation of the rubbingapparatus, the drive mechanism 14a consists of two transmissionassemblies, each of which is provided with two cylinders 36. The twocylinders 36 of one assembly operate synchronously with the ends of thepiston rods 42 engaging at each end a common vertical transmission rod44a,44b and 46a, 46b, respectively.

The tensile members 16 of the webs 8 moved synchronously in onedirection are attached to the transmission rods 44a and 44b while thetensile members of the webs 8 which are simultaneously movedsynchronously in the other direction are attached to the transmissionrods 46a and 46b. Due to the actuation of the two drive assemblies inopposite directions, the movement of the individual webs of the rubbingcloth 2 in opposite directions is achieved.

The embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention illustratedin FIG. 6 does not require transmission rods 44a,44b and 46a,46b becausethe tensile members 16 engage directly the ends of the crank piston rods41.

According to FIG. 8, the tensile strands 16 of the cloth 2 extend to acrankshaft 14b which drives the cloth.

In case of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the tensile strands 16of the cloth 2 extend to the crankshafts a and 15 b which drive thecloth.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for rubbing and massaging the human body by means of acloth-shaped rubbing material, which comprises a rubbing material whichis disposed so as to form a surface and subdivided into a succession ofwebs extending substantially parallel with respect to one another, andmeans for driving alternate webs in one direction, the intermediate websin opposite direction and for alternating the directions in which saidwebs are driven.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the rubbing material isstretched in a substantially vertical plane.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the individual webs of therubbing material extend substantially horizontally.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rubbing material hasrubber elasticity.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that each of theindividual webs capable of being reciprocated has associated with it adrivable tensile member which is tightly connected with said web.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said tensile member is ofcontinuous configuration and connected at both ends directly with thedriving means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said tensile members areselected from the group consisting of ropes, ribbons and wires.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rope and wire consist ofa rust-free material.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said member selected from thegroup consisting of ropes and wires is capable of being satisfactorilybonded to rubber and is integrally formed with the base material of thewebs within or without the webs.

10. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said rubbing materialconsists of a continuous cloth.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said cloth is provided withcutouts between the individual webs which are susceptible of beingdriven in opposite directions.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rubbing materialconsists of a rubbing cloth of rubber.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rubbing materialconsists of a rubber sheet to which a separate terry cloth is removablyattached by buttonmg.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cloth-shaped rubbingmaterial is supported by a supporting frame which is provided on each ofthe sides opposing each other in the direction of movement with areversing member, and said driving means for the individual webs of therubbing material engages both sides of the reversed web ends.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein rods seated with each oftheir ends in a rigid plate are provided for the reversal of the webs.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein reversing rolls are mountedon the rods.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least one drivablecrankshaft having attached to its crankpins the ends of the webs or thetensile members is provided as driving means for the individual webs.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said driving means is acamshaft with a gear motor.

l9. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said driving means istightly connected with'said supporting frame.

20. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least two double-actingpistons which are operable by means of tap water and controlled to movein opposite directions are provided as driving means.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said water-operated pistonsare directly driven through a fluidal proportional amplifier.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said tensile member isattached directly to the ends of a crank piston rod of said piston.

23. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said supporting frame isarranged swingably.

24. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said supporting frame isarranged for being swung into a shower cabin with appropriate side facesof the supporting frame forming atleast one wall or parts of a wall ofsaid shower cabin in the respective position of said supporting frame.

UNITED STA'l'ES lA'l'l'l UFFICE CER'IIFICA'IE 0F CORREC'HQN Patent No.3,844,277 Dated October 29, 1974 inventor) KARIL-QEINZ PAHL I It iscertified that error appears'in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

C01. 6, claim 23, line 1, cancel "l9" and substitute 22 Col. 6, claim24, line 1, cancel- "20" and substitute l8 f ne sealed this 1st day offipril 11:75.

Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks RUTH C I'IASOB? attesting Officer

1. Apparatus for rubbing and massaging the human body by means of acloth-shaped rubbing material, which comprises a rubbing material whichis disposed so as to form a surface and subdivided into a succession ofwebs extending substantially parallel with respect to one another, andmeans for driving alternate webs in one direction, the intermediate websin opposite direction and for alternating the directions in which saidwebs are driven.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the rubbingmaterial is stretched in a substantially vertical plane.
 3. Apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the individual webs of the rubbingmaterial extend substantially horizontally.
 4. Apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said rubbing material has rubber elasticity. 5.Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that each of theindividual webs capable of being reciprocated has associated with it adrivable tensile member which is tightly connected with said web. 6.Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said tensile member is ofcontinuous configuratiOn and connected at both ends directly with thedriving means.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said tensilemembers are selected from the group consisting of ropes, ribbons andwires.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rope and wireconsist of a rust-free material.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8,wherein said member selected from the group consisting of ropes andwires is capable of being satisfactorily bonded to rubber and isintegrally formed with the base material of the webs within or withoutthe webs.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said rubbingmaterial consists of a continuous cloth.
 11. Apparatus according toclaim 10, wherein said cloth is provided with cutouts between theindividual webs which are susceptible of being driven in oppositedirections.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rubbingmaterial consists of a rubbing cloth of rubber.
 13. Apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein said rubbing material consists of a rubber sheet towhich a separate terry cloth is removably attached by buttoning. 14.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cloth-shaped rubbingmaterial is supported by a supporting frame which is provided on each ofthe sides opposing each other in the direction of movement with areversing member, and said driving means for the individual webs of therubbing material engages both sides of the reversed web ends. 15.Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein rods seated with each of theirends in a rigid plate are provided for the reversal of the webs. 16.Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein reversing rolls are mounted onthe rods.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least onedrivable crankshaft having attached to its crankpins the ends of thewebs or the tensile members is provided as driving means for theindividual webs.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein saiddriving means is a camshaft with a gear motor.
 19. Apparatus accordingto claim 18, wherein said driving means is tightly connected with saidsupporting frame.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at leasttwo double-acting pistons which are operable by means of tap water andcontrolled to move in opposite directions are provided as driving means.21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said water-operated pistonsare directly driven through a fluidal proportional amplifier. 22.Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said tensile member is attacheddirectly to the ends of a crank piston rod of said piston.
 23. Apparatusaccording to claim 19, wherein said supporting frame is arrangedswingably.
 24. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said supportingframe is arranged for being swung into a shower cabin with appropriateside faces of the supporting frame forming at least one wall or parts ofa wall of said shower cabin in the respective position of saidsupporting frame.